Thousands join ‘No Kings’ protests in Denver and across Colorado

Thousands of Coloradans marched through the streets of downtown Denver and joined rallies across the state Saturday as part of the national “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump’s policies.

Demonstrators began filling streets near the state Capitol building around 12:30 p.m., and Denver police announced rolling road closures in the area, including on West Colfax Avenue and Speer Boulevard, as demonstrators marched downtown.

People in more than 50 Colorado cities and towns organized demonstrations to coincide with Saturday’s military parade in Washington, D.C., in celebration of the Army’s 250th anniversary, which falls on Trump’s 79th birthday.

“No Kings” organizers described the events as a “nationwide day of defiance” against authoritarianism.

Denver’s gathering is expected to be the largest in Colorado as it surrounds the No Kings People’s Fair, which runs from noon to 4 p.m. at Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park, just west of the state Capitol.

More than a dozen protests began Saturday morning throughout metro Denver, with more planned in communities large and small across the state, from Greeley and Grand Junction to Fairplay and Lamar.

Protesters gathered at demonstrations in Arvada, Boulder, Longmont, Fort Collins, Windsor, Edwards and Grand Junction on Saturday morning.

Large “No Kings” crowds were reported at 104th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard in Westminster and 120th Avenue and Sheridan in Broomfield.

‘Amazed by the turnout’

Crowds started gathering for a No Kings demonstration in Parker at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, despite urging from town officials against holding the event.

Passing cars honked in solidarity as at least 100 people waved and hoisted signs denouncing Trump, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Douglas County home-rule proposition that’s now on the ballot, at the intersection of Parker and Twenty Mile roads.

Other demonstrators dispersed by the dozen to walk to different intersections across the block-by-block protest.

The group was a mix of Parker residents and Coloradans who drove out to support the demonstration. Town officials denied an event permit for the protest because of police resources needed for the nearby Parker Days festival, but organizer Carolyn Williamson refused to cancel.

Aurora resident Caroline Gallet, 66, said she chose to attend the Parker demonstration instead of events in Denver or Littleton after pushback from the town made national news.

“I’m amazed by the turnout,” she said. “I was worried because Parker is such a polarized community and I didn’t know how it would be received.”

At 11:30 a.m., 30 minutes before the protest was scheduled to end, people were still arriving with flags and signs along a three-mile stretch of Parker Road from Hess Road to Ponderosa Drive.

Protesters appear to be avoiding the area around Main Street, where the Parker Days festival was happening, and there was no visible police presence near the demonstrations.

“I think these protests are a sign of how concerned people are about the creeping authoritarianism in our country,” protester Lloyd Guthrie said. “I’m 72 and I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Guthrie, a friend of Williamson, the Parker rally organizer, lives in Roxborough and was planning to attend multiple protests across the state on Saturday.

He said he’s also concerned about Douglas County’s home rule proposition and felt it lined up with his fears about the national government.

County officials are “regurgitating Trump administration dog-whistles,” he said.

“Politicians are pushing divisiveness and that’s something we have to stand up to,” he said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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